The Blochers 3

Assisant

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:39:00 +0000

I think that my assistant, Grace, thinks that if she is laying on my computer or on my arms when I'm at the computer, then I won't be able to type ~ I'll have to only give her loving...

Lance & Jonathon in "Heaven"

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Lance & Jonathon love to play in the dirt. They got the opportunity recently to get dirty while doing some "dirt work" at our church. The grass next to our parking lot needed leveling and filling in and Lance & Jonathon were eager to volunteer!

Dirty & LOVING It!

The Boyz

Jonathon Moving Dirt

Just Beautiful

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:02:00 +0000

My words are too inadequate to describe

what a great and talented artist God is so I'll let His work speak for itself.

My current backyard.

Pumpkin Painting

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:26:00 +0000

'Tis the season to Paint Pumpkins!

Last Saturday we spent some time with just a few of our friends painting pumpkins and enjoying brunch together. Time goes by too fast and we never spend enough time with those we love and care about.

PUMPKINS TO PAINT

Anieszka'a work of art. The colors were bright and beautiful.

Jonathon, Elisha & Chayenne (Mark is sitting in the background)

FOOD TO EAT

Isn't this the most beautiful fruit bowl you have ever seen? Lance cut and arranged the fruit without any instruction from me. He always impresses me!

Jonathon's New Best Buddy

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:02:00 +0000

Emmitt loves Jonathon & loves to be where ever Jonathon is.

Today Jonathon was doing his class work and Emmitt jumped up into Jonathon's lap and turned around to watch him write. I think we have two 6th graders in the house!

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Can you see Grace?

They are best buddies and never sleep alone. They bring us such joy.

Jonathon's Silent Reading Time

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Jonathon loves to read & now he has a reading buddy, Emmitt.

Emmitt is the cool cat - he has thumbs!!!!

Where Did the Time Go?

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:25:00 +0000

We have been experiencing a lot of firsts in our family recently. All of them revolve around Jonathon and the fact he is now a middle school student. That means 6th grade and membership in the middle school youth group at our church. (!)

I can't believe he is almost as tall as me and he won't stop growing!

Jonathon on his way to youth Sunday school for the first time.

My young man in true Blocher fashion ~ I love him!!

I Love Davina!

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:16:00 +0000

My friend Davina is an awesome lady who has touched my life in tremendous ways.

She was in India last week on a mission trip and now she is in America where she is moving to and starting another chapter of her life with her husband and daughters in North Dakota.

On her way back through Germany to America, Lance, Jonathon and I spent a little time with her in Frankfurt during her layover. The picture above was taken in the McDonald's in the Frankfurt train station.

I'll miss seeing Davina but take comfort in knowing she will always be my friend and sister!

A Scooting We Will Go

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:59:00 +0000

k. Please get out a pencil and a piece of paper and work the following equation:

1 hip-36 year old mom +
1 adventurous 11 year old +
2 foot-powered scooters +
1 dare from an 11 year old to a 36 year old to race =

Did you get this answer?

Yes. That's me after a fall on the sidewalk shortly after Jonathon challenged me to a race today. I was wearing a helmet but unfortunately I wasn't wearing knee pads or a chin pad.

I don't think anything is broken but yes it does hurt when I talk, eat, wiggle my nose, walk.

My friend Judy, who is an RN, came over and evaluated me. If I can't walk tomorrow I'll go to the doctor.

For tonight I'll lay on the couch completely bored with my leg elevated and a bag of frozen brussel sprouts on my chin.

This really is depressing because tonight is the first night of the youth's Wednesday night supper ministry at the church that I am managing. Or suppose to be managing. My heros, Lance and Jonathon, are there now with my co-manager cooking up Sloppy J's for a bunch of hungry teenagers.

Lance is a great nurse-maid but he can't help but laugh a little. I plan to be on the treadmill tomorrow morning. Atleast that is my type-A goal. Sitting around just isn't my style!

Just Jonathon

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:51:00 +0000

I love my son. He is talented, creative, artistic, and one of the loves of my life.

He brightens every day with his laughter and sense of humor.

I am honored and thankful to be his mama.

My Jonathon

Julian ~ FCK's #1 Fan!!!

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:20:00 +0000

Our friend, Julian, LOVES the German soccer team, FCK.

FCK is a local, international team and he is a 15 year-old season ticket holder.

One of the team's goalies, Luis Robles, and his wife worship at our church. Kara was Jonathon's crew leader during VBS earlier this month. Jonathon really liked her as she is very kind and tender hearted. Jonathon asked Kara if her husband would sign a soccer ball for him and for his friend, FCK's #1 fan. Not only did her husband sign the balls, most of the team did.

Last night while our friends were at our home, Jonathon gave Julian his ball. The look on Julian's face is worth a thousand words. (Julian has a piece of grass from FCK's stadium in his back yard and is cultivating it and keeping the seeds so one day his yard ~ when he owns a home~ will be covered in FCK grass. No joke. He LOVES FCK!)

VBS Day 5

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:22:00 +0000

VBS has been over for a couple of weeks but I wanted to share our last day with you. I had such a great, relaxed week and am thankful I was able to serve Jesus through acting like a *little* crazy character named Skeeter. I loved every minute of it!

On Friday Skeeter played a joke on her acting partner, Ginger. I pretended to have caught a bird to take care of but everyone knew that Skeeter couldn't take care of a bird, even with his eyes closed! So at the end of the skit, I raised a cooler above Ginger's head in hopes the children would think water would come out and be very surprised when feathers floated out. As you can see in the last picture, they didn't float out so I had to dump them out. Skeeter learned that although she couldn't take care of a bird, that God always takes care of us. How true that is!!

The Feathers Waiting to be Set Free

Ginger kept trying to peak in and see what I really had in the cooler (even though she knew).

Me taking my bird on a simulated roller coaster ride with my eyes closed and "accidentally" dumping them on Ginger's head.

Me having to help the feathers out of the cooler.

My hero and the church handy man, Dave Bulen. He recommended collecting the feathers in his leaf blower instead of me picking up each one by hand. He is a smart man!

I Just Don't Want to Give Blood

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Last week Jonathon and I had the opportunity to volunteer during a Red Cross blood drive on base. I actually decided we were going to help and when I told Jonathon he said, "Okay."

That night he told me, very seriously, he didn't want to help and I was shocked because he has a tremendous heart for service. He told me he didn't want to give blood. I reassured him that we weren't going to give blood (I've lived in Europe too long and he's too young), we were just going to help and I would ask the coordinator to put us far away from the blood. And she did.

Jonathon and I were in charge of stocking the snack table. Easy task and one Jonathon enjoyed because he got his pick of the goodies.

OUR VIEW FROM THE TABLE

It was great to see people there donating blood that would otherwise cost the military $250 a pint if they had to buy it. One pint can help 3 people! One man I talked with gave blood every 59 days and I don't think he does it for the free snacks!

And I got to see a little drama - a girl passed out. Thankfully she was still on the cot but blood was everywhere, the techs were running around. She was ok but unfortunately Jonathon, who loves drama, was out with his dad eating lunch ~ he was sad to miss the action.

Can't wait for the next drive!

Emmitt & Blaze Blocher

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Don't you love to get a flouride treatment?

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Jonathon does(n't)! Can't you feel his pain?

Jonathon's 11 and a Half Birthday

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:49:00 +0000

On Monday Jonathon turned 11 and a half! I can't believe it.

What's even more hard to believe is he can almost look me in the eye without standing on his tiptoes!! I try not to cry but it's hard...

So he and two friends went bowling, ate some 'dogs, played some games, ate some cake and played a little WII. It was a good day.

Sandstone Caves - Largest In Europe

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Saturday, Lance, Jonathon & I traveled 20 minutes to the west, near the French border, to Homburg and the largest sandstone caves in Europe. http://www.homburg.de/content/pages/1275.htm

It was amazing to walk where sand was once harvested to make glass and where hundreds of people took refuge during WWII. There is still a brewery that sits at the foot of the mountain which once stored barrels of beer along a mile-long stretch of the caves, before they changed to the metal vats.

All in all there are 12 levels of caves in the mountain. We toured a part of the 10th level ~ the only one open to the public. Engineers are bracing a room on the 10th level where parties were once held.

Just unbelievable what lies beneath an unassuming mountain.

For my local friends: The tour guide spoke German, of course, but after the group of Germans went exploring, he told us the history in perfect English. Perhaps a tour in English could be arranged if you are interested in going. The tour is not stroller friendly unless you have a 4WD stroller nor is it meant for little ones who like to touch things as the walls are very soft and crumble at the slightest touch. To start the tour, we walked down the mountain via a path or you can walk up the mountain via a path. Go! Great history especially if you are a WWII history buff.

Supports installed in modern times to hold up the ceiling of soft sand.

Jonathon & Lance are standing in what was a home for some local residents during WWII. The people would carve out a whole in the wall to live in for no more than 2 weeks at a time because of the lack of fresh air.

This home was dug deep into the mountain so deep we couldn't see the end in the dim light but Lance & Jonathon weren't afraid and ventured to the end. We couldn't believe the flash of the camera reached them.

A room where they use to keep unruley husbands. Just kidding. They only bricked it in in modern times.

Jonathon looking in to a room being excavated. This is what he saw...

The different levels have shafts going to them and from them. This is going up to the 11th level.

Tunnels Under Kaiserslautern

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:47:00 +0000

We live in the city of Kaiserslautern, quite a large city and rich with history.

Yesterday Jonathon and I took a tour with some friends of a part of the old city that lies underground. Underneath the main part of the city is ruins of the wall that once surrounded Kaiserslautern, what is left of a brewery and hundreds of graves - most have been emptied but we did see one skeleton.

Jonathon and our friend, Heather, checking out a hidden passage...

Before yesterday we did not know these treasures were below our feet and the tires of our car! After living here for more than 3 years, that is an embarrassing fact!

The tour was in German but when our friends come over in September, we are going to take a tour in English.

Lazy Summer Days

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:42:00 +0000

Jonathon and his best friend, Tim, after a hot day of playing.
They had a great time while accidentally watering the grass.

Jonathon and Tim are inseparable. Unfortunately, Tim is moving to the States in a couple of weeks. I have prayed and trust that God will send another friend for Jonathon but I can't wait until we settle down. We have lived in 9 houses in 13 years and I have been moving for more than half of my life. It's time to settle down.

I hope.

The Flea Market

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:43:00 +0000

On Saturday, Jonathon and I booked a table at the flea market on Base for our final attempt at selling our excess items. What's left will either be sold (hopefully) on Amazon or given to charity. Jonathon had his own table full of toys and did pretty good in sales. He is an entrepeneur with a mind for money and is developing a respect for it. I am very proud of him.

Johannesburg, South Africa

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Last weekend Lance went to South Africa ~ to Johannesburg.

He was there to survey a couple of sites

and this time he got to go on a safari.

Here's some of what he saw.

The First Hotel Lance Stayed In

Lions

Lance "Being Schooled" by the Principal of a School Lance Surveyed

Hippos

Zebras & a Buffalo

Lance in Ghana

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:44:00 +0000

A couple of months ago Lance went to Ghana, Africa, with a team of other Air Force members to survey runways at different airports. Why runways? At the time it was classified so I couldn't post about his trip but now we all know that President Obama recently went to Ghana. Lance and his team are the ones who verified the runway and emergency services would support Air Force One and all of the other aircraft that needed to land there.

Unfortunately, Lance's photos were mostly of runways (one made of red clay - yes it was active and used daily). The only one I have to post is of one of Lance's co-workers being briefed by an airport official. Quite boring but wait for the next post...

Praise! Praise! Praise!

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I can't thank Him enough. All in His time is what I keep hearing.

Last Spring Jonathon started suffering with daily headaches. We tried Tylenol; he was mis-diagnosed with migraines; kept a 30-day journal of what happened before he got his headaches (he would wake up with them); he saw a neurologist who wanted to put him on anit-depressants when he wasn't depressed because the medication had shown to relieve headaches in children; had his brain scanned; had this; had that; but never once did a doctor examine his body or his spine.

I am homeopathic. I have seen too many people that I love swallow pills to cover a condition rather than solve it so I refused to put him on meds. I have a friend, who I can't thank enough, who is a physical therapist that had helped me with my spine alignment issues. I asked her to look at his spine and see if needed an adjustment. He really did because she found he has scoliosis of the spine. Lumbar and thoratic. His spine was an elongated "S". 15 degrees at the top and 12 at the bottom. No wonder he was having headaches (as diagnosed by his non-medical degree holding mama ;)).

The neuro doctor didn't apologize for not examining Jonathon properly but did admit that scoliosis could cause headaches and wished us luck. No comment.

His pediatrician tried many times to get Jonathon seen by an American ortho doctor at LRMC but they were only seeing active duty, quite understandably. But I persisted and his doctor persisted and he got in last Fall. The doctor listened. He told Jonathon to lay down on the exam table and the doctor showed me that Jonathon's left leg was more than an inch shorter than his right. Thus the curvature of his spine. He said no therapy, no shoe insert, no funny pillow to sit on. Let his body catch up. That's the way God designed us.

Last week he had his third, sixth month x-ray to monitor the curvature. He started out at 15 and 12 almost a year ago today -- and he is now at 3 and 7 degrees! Unbelievable! Simply God! Simply God!

We are going to have a party tonight in the Blocher house! Thanking and praising God. He is always faithful to us when we aren't always faithful to Him!

Blocher Fact

notjustbabycakes@yahoo.com (I'm Tracy &) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Fact: Not only does one have to have a great sense of fashion,

one also has to be crazy to be a Blocher.

Proof: